THE DURHAM DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity reported an underlying operating deficit of £0.8m for the year ended 31 December 2025, driven by financial pressures on parishes and inflation. Despite this, unrestricted available free reserves were £4.2m, which falls within the stated policy target range of £2.5m to £5.0m, and the trustees confirmed sufficient cash resources to continue as a going concern.
What the accounts disclose
“In the band £90,001 - £100,000 1” — page 48
“the DDBF contributed £240,000 (2024: £240,000) to the running costs of this entity.” — page 67
“The total paid to the National Church was £0.6m (2024: £0.5m).”
“the DDBF contributed £240,000 (2024: £240,000) to the running costs of this entity.” — page 67
“The total paid to the National Church was £0.6m (2024: £0.5m).”
“the DDBF contributed £240,000 (2024: £240,000) to the running costs of this entity.” — page 67
“The total paid to the National Church was £0.6m (2024: £0.5m).”
Year-over-year changes
- Going concern: going-concern doubt noted (FY2022) → no going-concern doubt (FY2025).
Leadership, per the charity’s website
- Rick Simpson — Bishop of Durham
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/12/2025)
Register events
- Received assets from another charity (02/06/2023)
- Received assets from another charity (01/06/2023)
- Received assets from another charity (12/05/2023)
- Received assets from another charity (18/08/2021)
Trustees
- Alison Blackburn
- Barnaby Thomas Huish
- Canon Dr JAMES HERBERT HARRISON
- Dr Philip James John Plyming Very Revd
- FRANK ANDREW ROGERS
- Frances Ruth Stenlake
- James Hall
- Katherine Janet Bagnall
- Lilian Mary Jordon
- MARGARET LOUISE VAUGHAN
- Matthew James Levinsohn
- Nigel Ralph Wyrley-Birch
- Paul William Hobbs
- Rev Paul Andrew Arnold
- Reverend Canon Daine Maria Lindley
- Stephen Lyndon Pickering
- The Right Reverend Richard Lee Simpson Bishop
- Ursula Ruth Hicks
- Ven Elizabeth Mary Wilkinson
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/12/2025 | £12.5m | £12.8m |
| 31/12/2024 | £12.9m | £13.1m |
| 31/12/2023 | £12.4m | £13.0m |
| 31/12/2022 | £12.6m | £13.1m |
| 31/12/2021 | £12.8m | £12.0m |
Common questions
Is THE DURHAM DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE financially healthy?
The accounts state that the charity reported an underlying operating deficit of £0.8m for the year ended 31 December 2025, driven by financial pressures on parishes and inflation. Despite this, unrestricted available free reserves were £4.2m, which falls within the stated policy target range of £2.5m to £5.0m, and the trustees confirmed sufficient cash resources to continue as a going concern. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by UNW LLP.
What does the highest-paid employee of THE DURHAM DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE earn?
Per its FY2025 accounts, the highest-paid employee was in the £90,001 - £100,000 band.
Who funds THE DURHAM DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE?
Funders whose own accounts filings name THE DURHAM DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE as a grant recipient include CHARITY OF SIR RICHARD WHITTINGTON, SIR JOHN PRIESTMAN CHARITY TRUST.
Known funders
| Funder | Year | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CHARITY OF SIR RICHARD WHITTINGTON | FY2024 | £32k |
| SIR JOHN PRIESTMAN CHARITY TRUST | FY2021 | £17k |
| SIR JOHN PRIESTMAN CHARITY TRUST | FY2021 | £10k |
| SIR JOHN PRIESTMAN CHARITY TRUST | FY2024 | £8k |
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 27/04/2015 | £10k | "Commemoration of the World War 2 Armistice" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 31/03/2014 | £28k | "Hart village World War 1 project" |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| THE ARCHBISHOPS' COUNCIL | 2 | £22.0m |
| NEWCASTLE DIOCESAN SOCIETY | 1 | £22k |
| THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF GREAT BADDOW, MEADGATE | 1 | £7k |
| CHRIST CHURCH ENDCLIFFE CIO | 1 | £3k |